The Mets released relief pitcher Rocky Cherry Tuesday after he cleared waivers, but a team spokesman said Cherry could be re-signed to a minor-league contract. Cherry, a Rule 5 draft pick, was offered back to the Baltimore Orioles after clearing waivers, but the Orioles declined to pay the $25,000 fee to get him back. The Mets acquired Cherry, who had a 2.25 ERA in four Grapefruit League innings, for $50,000 from the Orioles in last [...]

The battle for the fifth starters job got a little bit more murkier today when Jon Niese took the mound against the Atlanta Braves. Niese has more of an uphill battle because he not only has to pitch better than his rivals, he really needs to set himself apart in a big way for the Mets to give him the job. Today he failed to do that. The promising lefthander gave up two runs and three walks in four innings including [...]

According to John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus, the Astros are close to signing Pedro Martinez.  The Astros are on the verge of signing a potential Hall of Famer as a free agent for the second team in a week as baseball sources indicated Tuesday night that they are close to an agreement with right-hander Pedro Martinez.  Martinez pitched for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic earlier this month and worked three scoreless innings in [...]

Once last season ended and throughout the off-season I thought that Pedro Martinez would be just a memory of days gone by.  I didn’t hold a grudge against Pedro but he was hurt more often than not and did not earn the big contract he was given.  Pedro was brought here to bring the Mets a championship but never delivered one.  In 2006, the one year that the Mets did make the playoffs he was [...]

At the risk of being identified as a “moron” for detracting from the stellar character possessed by one A-Fraud, I figured the base might get a kick out of the NY Post story about how much that excellent baseball player and all-around wonderful NY Yankee, Alexander Rodriguez, spends lots of time admiring himself. (C’mon admit it, you all do this, too!) Seriously, the photos are screamingly funny. I’ve actually never really hated this guy, but [...]

Earlier today it was announced that the Houston Astros signed free agent catcher and future Hall Of Famer, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.  The Astros signed him to a 1 year deal valued at $1.5 million with another $1.5 million in incentives.  Pudge who has been playing in the WBC for Puerto Rico looks to be in great shape, perhaps even the best shape of his career.  His bat has been on fire and of course his [...]

The Mets made some announcements today regarding their minor league teams. The New York Mets today announced the 2009 coaching staff for the Kingsport Mets, the team’s Appalachian League affiliate. Former Mets catcher Mike DiFelice will manage and be joined on the bench by hitting coach Ryan Ellis, pitching coach Jonathan Hurst and bench coach Juan Lopez. They also announced the new coaching staff for the rookie league Gulf Coast Mets. Former Met Julio Franco [...]

ESPN is reporting that the Astros have signed  catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one year deal worth $1.5 million dollars. The Houston Chronicle had first reported that the future hall of Fame catcher was very close to signing a deal with the Houston Astros, but it looks like it is now official. In a move that would give the Astros a boost behind the plate, future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez appears close to [...]